BRITISH STANDARD

Manhole steps
Part 3: Specification for aluminium
manhole steps

BS 1247-3:
1991

BS 1247-3:1991

Committees responsible for this

British Standard
The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Road
Engineering Standards Policy Committee (RDB/-) to Technical Committee
RDB/35, upon which the following bodies were represented:
Association of London Borough Engineers and Surveyors
British Foundry Association
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.
British Telecommunications plc
Consumer Policy Committee of BSI
County Surveyors Society
Department of Transport (Engineering Policy and Programme Division)
Ductile Iron Pipe Committee
Electricity Supply Industry in United Kingdom
Institute of British Foundrymen
Institute of Building Control
Institution of Water and Environmental Management
Institution of Works and Highways Management
Water Services Association of England and Wales
The following bodies were also represented in the drafting of the standard,
through subcommittees and panels:
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Road
Engineering Standards Policy
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Standards Board and comes
into effect on
28 June 1991
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The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference RDB/35
Draft for comment 90/11783 DC
ISBN 0 580 19579 1

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No.

Date

Comments

BS 1247-3:1991

Contents
Committees responsible
Foreword
1
Scope
2
Materials
3
Design features
4
Finish
5
Design tests
6
Quality control tests
7
Test requirements
8
Marking
Appendix A Information to be given by the purchaser in his
enquiry and order
Appendix B Bending test
Appendix C Pull out test
Appendix D Impact test
Figure 1 Typical single step
Figure 2 Typical double step
Figure 3 Test for twist
Figure 4 Test for bending
Figure 5 Typical impact rig and striker
Publication(s) referred to

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Page
Inside front cover
ii
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
5
5
5
2
3
4
6
7
Inside back cover

BS 1247-3:1991

Foreword
This Part of BS 1247 has been prepared under the direction of the Road
Engineering Standards Policy Committee and it supplements BS 1247-1 and
BS 1247-2.
Previous editions of this British Standard specified rigid dimensions for steps.
This Part specifies performance criteria, based on test requirements, and only key
dimensions have been included.
As in BS 1247-1, double steps (also known as rung irons) have been included and
this Part deals with aluminium steps with plastics fixings.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.
ii

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BS 1247-3:1991

1 Scope

6 Quality control tests

This Part of BS 1247 specifies the essential

dimensions and general requirements for
aluminium manhole steps with plastics fixings.
Aluminium manhole steps are for use in structures
such as concrete manholes and inspection
chambers.

Sample steps shall be tested for compliance with the

requirements given in 7.1, 7.2, and 7.4. Sampling
procedures shall be in accordance with BS 6001-1 or
BS 6002 with a minimum AQL of 1.

NOTE 1 This Part of BS 1247 is not intended to cover steps

which may be subject to exposure to concentrated acids or alkalis.
NOTE 2 A summary of items to be agreed between the
manufacturer and purchaser is given in Appendix A.
NOTE 3 The titles of the publications referred to in this
standard are listed on the inside back cover.

7.1 Twist

2 Materials
2.1 Plastics
The plastics used for fixings shall be a polyolefin
specified in accordance with BS 3412 or BS 5139.
2.2 Aluminium
The aluminium used in steps shall comply with
grade 6082 of BS 1474.

7 Test requirements
When supported on three props of equal height on a
level surface, as shown in Figure 3, the height (H) of
the front edge of the tread from that surface shall
not vary along its length by more than 3 mm for a
single step or more than 5 mm for a double step.
7.2 Bending
When tested in accordance with Appendix B the
step shall support a load of 2.5 kN without visible
cracking and the deflection shall not exceed 5 mm.
After removal of the load, the residual deflection
shall not exceed 1 mm.

3 Design features

NOTE The residual deflection is intended to allow for a bedding

in factor and not for yield in the material. The graphical plots of
load against deflection should exhibit a straight line relationship,
i.e. loading is within the elastic range of the materials.

3.1 Design and dimensions

7.3 Pull out test

Steps shall comply with the appropriate dimensions

given in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
The minimum outside diameter of the aluminium
section of steps shall be 25 mm with a minimum
wall thickness of 3 mm.

When tested in accordance with Appendix C steps

shall resist a force of 7.5 kN.

3.2 Treads
The aluminium tubing extrusion shall be ribbed to a
minimum depth of 1.5 mm.
Steps shall have an upstand of at least 20 mm high
and 25 mm long on each end of the tread to act as a
boot stop.
NOTE The steps shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 are examples
only of typical configurations and are not intended to fix design.

4 Finish
Steps shall be protected from corrosion by anodizing
in accordance with grade AA25 of BS 1615.
Steps shall be free from projections or sharp edges
likely to cause injury.

7.4 Impact test

When tested in accordance with Appendix D steps
shall absorb an impact from a striker of mass 20 kg
dropped from a height of 1 m without fracture.

8 Marking
Each step shall be clearly and permanently marked
with the following identification in a manner which
is visible after installation:
a) the number and date of this British Standard,
i.e. BS 1247-3:19911);
b) the manufacturers identification;
c) the year and month of manufacture;
d) length in millimetres.

5 Design tests
Steps shall be designed to satisfy the test
requirements specified in clause 7.

1)

Marking BS 1247-3:1991 on or in relation to a product represents a manufacturers declaration of conformity, i.e. a claim by or
on behalf of the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of the standard. The accuracy of the claim is therefore
solely the responsiblity of the person making the claim. Such a declaration is not to be confused with third party certification of
conformity, which may also be desirable.

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BS 1247-3:1991

All dimensions are in millimetres.

Figure 1 Typical single step

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BS 1247-3:1991

All dimensions are in millimetres.

Figure 2 Typical double step

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BS 1247-3:1991

Figure 3 Test for twist

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BS 1247-3:1991

Appendix A Information to be given by C.2 Procedure

the purchaser in his enquiry and order C.2.1 Cast step into a mortar block (see C.2.2) and
The following information should be given by the
purchaser in his enquiry and order:
a) type of step;
b) length and type of tail where applicable;
c) if a manufacturers test certificate is required;
d) materials.

Appendix B Bending test

B.1 Apparatus
B.1.1 A test block, 75 mm in diameter, faced with
hard rubber or other resilient material.
B.1.2 A device capable of applying a load, of at
least 25 % greater than the appropriate load
specified in 7.2. Testing devices should comply with
the accuracy requirements for grade 1 or grade 2
testing machines given in BS 1610.
If applicable the calibration of the testing device
should be checked in accordance with BS 5781-1.
B.1.3 A clamping device, for holding the tail of the
step, (a typical apparatus is shown in Figure 4).
NOTE Clamping blocks should be shaped to the profile of the
tail of the step.

B.1.4 A device suitable for measuring deflection.

B.2 Procedure
Clamp the test sample firmly so as to leave the
design projection acting as a cantilever.
Apply the load centrally and normal to the tread as
shown in Figure 4 at a rate of 2.5 kN/min.
Apply the initial load up to 2.5 kN and hold
for 1 min. Remove the load and take a reading at the
centre of the tread to establish a datum from which
to measure deflection.
Repeat the test for two cycles and for each cycle note
the deflection at each 0.5 kN increment up to the
maximum of 2.5 kN. Maintain the load for 1 min.
Remove load and record the residual deflection.

Appendix C Pull out test

allow to cure for at least 10 days before testing.

The block for a single step should
be 100 mm 100 mm 250 mm long.
The block for a double step should
be 100 mm 100 mm 500 mm long.

NOTE Tails longer than 100 mm are permitted to protrude

from the bottom of the mortar block or may be cut off.

C.2.2 Use a mortar mix having a 3 : 1 ratio by

weight of Leighton Buzzard sand, Fraction A,
(see BS 4550-5) to OPC2) Standard blend cement.
The free water/cement ratio shall be 0.40.
C.2.3 Apply the force between the test block (C.1.2)
at the centre of the front tread of step and mortar
block. Apply this force gradually and without shock
and sustain load for period of 1 min.
NOTE If failure occurs by a fracture or by a shear cone failure
of the block this does not necessarily constitute failure of the step
and a re-test may be required.

Appendix D Impact test

D.1 Apparatus
D.1.1 A vertical tube, with a bore of 102 mm
to 104 mm, at least 1.2 m long and with a means of
indicating a minimum release height of 1 m above
the step.
D.1.2 A steel striker, 99 mm to 101 mm diameter
with a hemispherical nose 30 mm radius. The
length of the striker shall be such as to ensure a
minimum mass of 20 kg.
D.1.3 Impact rig, a typical impact rig as shown in
Figure 5.
D.2 Procedure
D.2.1 Cast step in a concrete block as described in
Appendix C, or fit to a block in accordance with
manufacturers recommendations.
D.2.2 Locate the block so that step faces vertically
upwards.
D.2.3 Drop a striker of mass 20 kg from a height
of 1 m on the centre of the step.

C.1 Apparatus
C.1.1 Hydraulic or mechanical equipment, capable
of exerting a force in excess of 20 kN and with a
means of measuring the load.
C.1.2 Concrete mould, capable of producing test
blocks either 100 mm 100 m 250 mm long
or 100 mm 100 mm 500 mm long.

2)

Ordinary Portland cement.

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BS 1247-3:1991

Figure 4 Test for bending

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BS 1247-3:1991

All dimensions are in millimetres.

Figure 5 Typical impact rig and striker

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blank

BS 1247-3:1991

Publication(s) referred to
BS 1474, Specification for wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys for general engineering
purposes: bars, extruded round tubes and sections.
BS 1610, Materials testing machines and force verification equipment.
BS 1615, Method for specifying anodic oxidation coatings on aluminium and its alloys.
BS 3412, Specification. Polyethylene materials for moulding and extrusion.
BS 4550, Methods of testing cement.
BS 4550-5, Standard sand for concrete cubes.
BS 5139, Classification for polypropylene plastics materials for moulding and extrusion.
BS 5781, Measurement and calibration systems.
BS 5781-1, Specification for system requirements.
BS 6001, Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes.
BS 6001-1, Specification for sampling plans indexed by acceptable quality level (AQL) for lot-by-lot
inspection.
BS 6002, Specification for sampling procedures and charts for inspection by variables for percent defective.

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BS 1247-3:
1991

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